seymour



(No Model.)

W. S. SEYMOUR.

FOLDING GOT.

No. 351,074. Patented Oct. 19, 1886,

N PETERS, PhotmLikhugrnphcr, Wlshingiofl. n. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM S. SEYMOUR, OF KENOSHA, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO ZALMON G.SIMMONS, OF SAME PLACE.

FOLDING COT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 351,074, dated October19, 1886.

Application filed May 21, 1886. Serial No. 202,832. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM S. SEYMOUR, ofKenosha, State of Wisconsin, have invented a new and useful Improvementin FoldingOots, of which the following is a specificatlon.

The invention relates to that class of cots in which a sheet or web ofwire or other elastic fabric is stretched on end rails; and the objectis to construct a cot of this type so that the side supports and legsmay be folded in between the end rails and lie in the same plane withthem.

The invention consists in the parts and features hereinafter moreparticularly described and claimed.

The accompanying drawings illustrate a cot containing the invention.

Figure l is a side elevation of such cot. Fig. 2 is a cross-sectiontaken on line :0 w of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a cross-section of the cotfolded. Fig. 4 is a top View of the frame folded. Fig. 5 is an enlargedsection on line a: w of Fig. 4..

A designates the fabric secured to the end rails, B, in any suitablemanner.

O designates a turned bow, composed of the parts 0 0, having theirends-fitted to each other and fastened together by a ferrule, c, drivenon over the ends. Trusses c are secured between the members of the bowto give it greater strength, thereby enabling it to be made lighter thanif the members were made large enough to answer the purpose withoutbeing connected'together at or near the center.

The ends of the bows are provided with a pin or gudgeon, adapted toenter holes of corresponding size in the sides of the end rails, and thefabric is stretched enough to enter the pins and then permitted tospring back. The two bows are thus held together so as to turn on orwith the pins in the holes of the end rails. A leg, D, is secured neareach end of each of the bows and braced by a brace, d, which may besecured to the side of the legs and bows, or by a hole in the legs, soas to pass under and be secured to the bottom of the bow. There is alsoa swinging brace, d, preferably made of a rod of iron, and attached byan eye or link, e, to the leg on one side, and provided with a hook, e,adapted to engage an eye on the opposite leg, so as to brace the legsfirmly in a cross direction. The thickness of the members of the bow andbraces d should be the same as that of the end pieces and thecross-pieces. d are so attached as to fold and lie between the bows,

as shown in Fig. 4.

Iprefer to locate the holes in the end rails as far in from their endsas may be, and allow the ends of the legs to fold inside the bows, orwithout hitting them, in order to equalize and relieve the strain of thefabric at the center of the rails and enable them to 6 he made lighter.The curvature of the bows affords ample room for the fabric to springdown to a considerable extent, without coming in contact with the bowsplaced under it.

The cot of this construction may be made single or double, and the legsand braces will fold in so as to make it only of the thickness of theend rails and the fabric, a convenient thing to be handled, stored, orpacked for shipping. 7 5

With this construction of the frame of the cot it can be made aboutone-third lighter than heretofore, and still be strong enough to answerevery purpose of a folding cot.

I am aware of the Patent No. 198,869, of 8) January I. 1878, to Bradley,for camp bedsteads. This shows the canvas attached to the side rails,and has an arrangement of the legs which prevents any folding withoutfirst detaching the end rails. There is, consequently, no pivotalconnection used between the end and side rails. My invention isdifferent from this in arrangement and operation. The fabric is notattached to the side rails or bows, but to the end rails only, and 9 thebows or side rails and legs and their braces are arranged and connectedwith the end rails pivotally, so as to fold flat in the same plane withthe end rails without detaching them.

WVhat is claimed is- A folding cot consisting of a web of elastic fabricattached to end rails, as B, in combination with the bows or side rails,0, provided with legs D, and swinging braces d, said bows having theirends abutting against [(20 the coincident edges of the end rails, and being secured thereto by a pivotal connection, as and for the purposespecified.

WILLIAM S. SEYMOUR.

. \Vitnesses:

JNo. H. WHIPPLE, JAMES R. DEAN.

